The James Harden era didn’t go too well for the Philadelphia 76ers. In the end, they had to trade him for whatever they could. And at the time, the return they got from the LA Clippers wasn’t seen as a huge win for Philly. But as the years have gone on, it’s become clear that the 76ers won the deal. And they just keep winning it.
Harden and the Clippers enjoyed a short and sweet marriage. He helped them make some legitimate playoff runs, but they sputtered out by the second round (in typical LA fashion). And now, he’s not even in LA anymore.
And considering that the 76ers were able to get some draft capital back in return from the Clippers, that deal looks like a huge win for Philly.
The 76ers can't stop winning the James Harden trade
When the 76ers traded Harden, they were all but forced into making a deal. Harden publicly stated that he had no interest in associating with Daryl Morey anymore, so a trade was inevitable.
In the end, the 76ers dealt Harden to the Clippers in exchange for a package of veteran players and some draft capital. Again, it seemed pretty lowly at the time, considering how talented Harden is.
Philly got back Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, and Kenyon Martin Jr. As for the picks, the Clippers sent back a 2024 second, a 2028 first-rounder, a 2029 first-round swap (top-three protected), and a 2029 second. Plus, they got back a 2026 conditional first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder (but that turned into a second).
Obviously, none of those players ended up being ideal fits for the 76ers. Batum played decent minutes for them, but he ultimately ended up back in LA anyway.
The real value the Sixers got back in the deal was the draft capital. The Clippers aren’t set up very well for the future, so their future first-round picks could end up being super valuable.
And the 76ers managed to get back one unprotected first in the Harden deal, as well as a future potential pick swap (albeit a top-three protected one).
Meanwhile, even though Harden played well for the Clippers, he was traded at this year’s deadline. LA got back Darius Garland and a second-round pick in the trade, but that’s a downgrade in terms of win-now talent.
Based on the path the Clippers are currently on, and the fact that Philly managed to get some draft capital back in the Harden deal, it’s clear that the Sixers can’t stop winning that trade.